When you decide to start a security company, you are beginning a journey that will bring you financial security and the knowledge that you are helping to make the world a safer place.
There are plenty of companies that one can start, but how many of those give you the sense that you are doing something good for the world? When you help to make people feel safe, you feel good about yourself.
Few businesses can give you that sort of feeling, but a security company can.
You have just embarked on a business that will leave you fulfilled in ways you never thought possible.
That all being said, what do you need to start one? The Essentials There are certain things that you are going to need to make your business function.
These are things you cannot do without when you are starting up a security company.
1.
An Office Without a doubt you need a place to work.
Whether this office is in a building that you rent or in your home, you need somewhere that is exclusively meant for your security company.
When you are first starting out, it is a good idea to work out of your home because not only can you save on building rent, but you can write off part of your rent or mortgage.
You can have your office in a spare room, in your den, or even in the living room.
2.
A Telephone If you don't have a telephone, you have just eliminated the primary way that your customer's will reach you.
While e-mail is very popular, most people prefer to contact businesses through the telephone.
If you don't have a telephone line dedicated to the security company, then you may be losing potential customers.
If a customer calls you and the line is busy, they may just call someone else.
You need to make sure that you have a phone line dedicated 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
A good idea is to have a cell phone since it will be near you at all times and will be meant specifically for the security company.
3.
Patrol Vehicle If you have a security company, you need some way of ensuring you provide security.
While you could walk, this will severely limit the area you can cover and the number of customers you can have.
Having a patrol vehicle is a great idea because it makes you highly mobile and you can use your patrol vehicle to advertise your security company.
Be sure to have a vehicle that is not in any way similar to a law enforcement vehicle.
You should buy a portable spot light that you can use while driving through your zones to both show you are providing security and to deter would-be criminals.
This will also help to boost your profile and gain you more business with customers in your coverage area.
Have the name of your security company on the side of the vehicle as well.
If you buy a new vehicle specifically for your security company, then you can write off the purchase as a business expense.
Further Extras While these are not essential to your business, if you don't have them you will find your security company is suffering.
1.
Business Contracts: Some security companies charge a fee each month without the need for a contract, but it is a very good idea you have something that outlines what you provide for your customers and what they provide you in compensation.
You can find plenty of sample contracts online, including those that are not full of legal jargon.
You want your contract to be simple so that both you and your customers can understand the items in it.
2.
Business Cards: You need something to hand out to potential customers and the tested and true business card fits that bill perfectly.
Your business card should be simple and look good, without being cluttered.
Have your company name in the center, and then in a lower corner put your name and contact information.
Your telephone number, fax number and pager number will go in the upper left or right.
You don't need to put your title under your name on the card but if you do, call yourself the owner or manager.
3.
Flyers: Flyers are great, especially for a security company.
You can easily hand them out and put them on vehicles in parking lots, or in mailboxes in an area you want to cover.
Keep the flyers simple.
You don't want a flyer that is "busy" with items all over it, making it complicated and hard to read.
Usually you can get a good deal if you print off 500 to 2,000.
4.
Telephone Listing: You need to advertise in the Yellow Pages.
When someone has their home broken into, the first thing they will do after regrouping is hire a security company and they will look in the phone book to find one.
If you aren't in there, you are losing potential business.
The fee for this is cheap and you can write it off during tax time.
There are many things you need for your company, including a computer, fax machine, office supplies and more, but the items listed here are of the utmost importance.
If you don't have them, your business cannot succeed.
There are plenty of companies that one can start, but how many of those give you the sense that you are doing something good for the world? When you help to make people feel safe, you feel good about yourself.
Few businesses can give you that sort of feeling, but a security company can.
You have just embarked on a business that will leave you fulfilled in ways you never thought possible.
That all being said, what do you need to start one? The Essentials There are certain things that you are going to need to make your business function.
These are things you cannot do without when you are starting up a security company.
1.
An Office Without a doubt you need a place to work.
Whether this office is in a building that you rent or in your home, you need somewhere that is exclusively meant for your security company.
When you are first starting out, it is a good idea to work out of your home because not only can you save on building rent, but you can write off part of your rent or mortgage.
You can have your office in a spare room, in your den, or even in the living room.
2.
A Telephone If you don't have a telephone, you have just eliminated the primary way that your customer's will reach you.
While e-mail is very popular, most people prefer to contact businesses through the telephone.
If you don't have a telephone line dedicated to the security company, then you may be losing potential customers.
If a customer calls you and the line is busy, they may just call someone else.
You need to make sure that you have a phone line dedicated 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
A good idea is to have a cell phone since it will be near you at all times and will be meant specifically for the security company.
3.
Patrol Vehicle If you have a security company, you need some way of ensuring you provide security.
While you could walk, this will severely limit the area you can cover and the number of customers you can have.
Having a patrol vehicle is a great idea because it makes you highly mobile and you can use your patrol vehicle to advertise your security company.
Be sure to have a vehicle that is not in any way similar to a law enforcement vehicle.
You should buy a portable spot light that you can use while driving through your zones to both show you are providing security and to deter would-be criminals.
This will also help to boost your profile and gain you more business with customers in your coverage area.
Have the name of your security company on the side of the vehicle as well.
If you buy a new vehicle specifically for your security company, then you can write off the purchase as a business expense.
Further Extras While these are not essential to your business, if you don't have them you will find your security company is suffering.
1.
Business Contracts: Some security companies charge a fee each month without the need for a contract, but it is a very good idea you have something that outlines what you provide for your customers and what they provide you in compensation.
You can find plenty of sample contracts online, including those that are not full of legal jargon.
You want your contract to be simple so that both you and your customers can understand the items in it.
2.
Business Cards: You need something to hand out to potential customers and the tested and true business card fits that bill perfectly.
Your business card should be simple and look good, without being cluttered.
Have your company name in the center, and then in a lower corner put your name and contact information.
Your telephone number, fax number and pager number will go in the upper left or right.
You don't need to put your title under your name on the card but if you do, call yourself the owner or manager.
3.
Flyers: Flyers are great, especially for a security company.
You can easily hand them out and put them on vehicles in parking lots, or in mailboxes in an area you want to cover.
Keep the flyers simple.
You don't want a flyer that is "busy" with items all over it, making it complicated and hard to read.
Usually you can get a good deal if you print off 500 to 2,000.
4.
Telephone Listing: You need to advertise in the Yellow Pages.
When someone has their home broken into, the first thing they will do after regrouping is hire a security company and they will look in the phone book to find one.
If you aren't in there, you are losing potential business.
The fee for this is cheap and you can write it off during tax time.
There are many things you need for your company, including a computer, fax machine, office supplies and more, but the items listed here are of the utmost importance.
If you don't have them, your business cannot succeed.
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